A POSTMISTRESS has been given permission to open a tea shop alongside a rural post office.

But planning councillors imposed a condition which means the tea shop can only operate for as long as there is a post office next to it.

Janet Hamer, who runs the post office in Blackburn Road, Edgworth, secured planning permission at a meeting of Blackburn with Darwen's planning and highways committee.

A report to the committee said that the part of the shop Ms Hamer wanted to turn into a teashop was currently a gift shop operating alongside the main post office and general store.

Access to the gift shop is through the main post office, and this should be the only way people can access the replacement tea shop, councillors ruled.

A report to the committee stated: "There is a lack of on-street parking in the area. However, the proposed use would be low-key operating in conjunction with the post office.

"The proposed use would assist in supporting the vitality of the village economy. However, it is considered that a condition be attached restricting the use to that applied for, it should remain ancillary to the main post office and not be separate to the post office."

The cafe will be open from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 10.30am-4pm on Sundays.